Phillip J. Pirages Fine Books and Manuscripts

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VERY LARGE DECORATED VELLUM MANUSCRIPT LEAVES, OFFERED INDIVIDUALLY, FROM AN ANTIPHONER IN LATIN.

(Spain, ca. 1550). 552 x 394 mm. (21 3/4 x 15 1/2"). Five five-line staves of music with text beneath. Rubrics and foliation in red, some tall gothic capitals painted in black with yellow highlights, leaves usually with one or two prominent initials (typically measuring about 85 x 55 mm.) in red or blue with elaborate penwork embellishment in the contrasting color, often extending into the margin, ONE SPECIAL LEAF WITH A VERY LARGE AND SPLENDID PUZZLE INITIAL painted in red and blue and decorated with intricate penwork in red, blue, and purple (this initial measuring approximately 177 x 172 mm., not counting very elaborate marginal extensions). Varying degrees of yellowing to the hair side of the leaves, otherwise in fine, clean, fresh condition, with unfaded text and very ample margins.

These well-preserved leaves come from a manuscript that would have been readily visible by even a large group of singers: in contrast to other Medieval and Renaissance choir books that contain as many as nine staves of music, these have five, and the text is, as a result, quite large and very easy to read even at a considerable distance.(ST11548)

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95 - $175 (depending on decoration); $1,600 for the special leaf with the very large initial